We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. (Psalm 75:1) 

Father as one of your churches that makes up the larger body of Your people, we come and simply lay at Your feet in thankfulness, for how You have given us life, support us in times of trial, provide for us in times of turbulence like we find ourselves in now, and how you’ve provided an incomparable salvation that we never could have sought after or achieved on our apart from the work of Your Spirit by Grace Alone. We thank You that Your name is near, that You have been made known to us through Jesus and all he’s accomplished to make us Your children. We thank You that You, the great I AM of the universe, would condescend to our level in order to be near us.

We recount your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 75:1) I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. (Psalm 40:5)

We remember Your works across redemptive history, how You brought Abraham out to worship You, and established Isaac and Jacob and Your people in Egypt through Joseph; how You delivered Your people out from slavery, how You provided for them in the dessert, how You established kings like David to foreshadow the greater and final King Jesus, how You sent prophets to Your people to proclaim salvation, and how finally through Jesus, the greatest prophet, priest and king, You brought about a final, ultimate salvation that would be for all the peoples of the Earth, calling all nations to yourself out of the darkness of their sin and into the light of Your beloved Son. Lord Your works are vast and this is just a small sample of them; we can’t even begin to elaborate on them all. We are so thankful for the lengths You went to make us Your own.

When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. (Psalm 75:3)

Lord You don’t promise to always deliver us from trial and pain or suffering, but You do promise to bring us through it, by drawing near to us through Your Word and prayer. Even though nations tremble and are brought to their knees by an invisible intruder like this, Lord You have graciously given us the means of grace and the way by which we can commune with You to find rest in the midst of a storm. During this time Lord when uncertainty abounds and hesitancy weighs on us as to how we’re to engage with returning to various activities, would we above all make it a priority to find our shelter in You and to be gracious to one another. Would You make Your home in us and would we make our home in You by creating space to be with You during our days, that You would be our shelter, our fortress, our guide, our Father, provider, and the One who fills us with joy and satisfaction beyond explanation. We’re desperate for You Lord, weary, tired, ready for things to change. We ask Lord that in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, from wherever we’re coming from in relation to all that’s happening with the virus as well as the economy, we would above all rest in You and offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and contentment.

And now a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer for this fifth Sunday in Easter:

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.